THE YOUNG OOLOGIST. 



Knights of Audubon 



All communications relating to this department 

 should be addressed to Mr. Jose R. CiRTrs, Painted 

 Post, Steuben County, N. Y. 



SALUTATORY. 



Painted Post. March 10, 1885. 

 To (he Collertm-8 of Americii : 



Gentlemen — Shall the " Knights of 

 Audubon " be a permanent and successful 

 a.ssociation ? Your unanimous reply is 

 " Yes." But j'our affirmative answer is 

 not only required, but tlie more indicative 

 actions and efforts of every interested or- 

 nithologist and oiilogist in America, wliich, 

 combined witli the admirable magazine, 

 our orticial organ, and the never-failing 

 changes of nature, should propel the 

 "Knights of Audubon" to the highest 

 pinnacle of success. 



The diligence and faithfulness of every 

 officer and the authentic and reliable re 

 ports of every member are also necessary. 

 Let the reports especially be correct in each 

 particular. You are all well aware of the 

 fact that a great number of persons, in 

 writing an account of a collecting tour or 

 slight adventure met with while on an 

 oological expedition, will fill out and ex- 

 pand the narration with nigh-sounding 

 phrases, numerous quotations and unes- 

 sential epithets, which, wlien thoroughly 

 sifted, will usually produce, in about one- 

 fourth of the language used, a few solid 

 and interesting facts. The former, if .sent 

 in by many memljers, would require page 

 after page of unnecessary mamiscript, as 

 well as the tiresome labor of inspection. 

 Now, let your monthly reports be the »pice 

 of the writings of the several members of 

 your Legion, not to exceed three pages of 

 single sheet note paper, written on one side 

 only. These will be expected. 



Communications have been received from 

 various ones who state that "It is almost 

 impossible to form a Legion here, as I am 

 the only one interested in birds, their nests 

 and eggs, in this place," and other similar 

 remarks. Do not give up so easily. If 

 there is no one whom you know is inter- 

 ested, the next thing to do is to intereU 



some of your friends. Call a meeting of a 

 few of them ; tell them of the organization 

 of the " Knights of Audubon," and its pur- 

 pose ; read the constitution and remarks in 

 the March number ; tell them of the ad- 

 vantages of such a society, sandwiching in 

 a few appropriate remarks, and before you 

 will have finished your discourse nine out 

 of teh of your listeners will consent to join. 

 Then appoint a subject for discussion at 

 next meeting, draw up your by-laws, and 

 send the report to the Chief Secretary and 

 receive the certificates of membership. 



Also let your meetings be conducted in 

 proper shape, as becoming a regular assem- 

 bly, and not the mere gathering together of 

 a few for the ex|)ress purpose of having 

 tun. They may not be especially formal, 

 but with sufficient dignity and appropriate 

 ness, and with proper enactment of the 

 regulations governing your gat'iCrings. 



In the department devoted to the 

 " Ivnights of Audubon" there will be a 

 '■query column," open to all who have 

 questions to ask the Secretary, or other- 

 wise, but entirely devoted to our organiza- 

 tion. W'e will be happy to hear from you, 

 one and all, in regard to any intpiiry which 

 puzzles you, and we will try to enlighten 

 your mind in that direction. 



Also a " correspondence colunm." to con- 

 tain the letters and notes from various ones 

 containing items of interest to the society, 

 which is open to correspondents. 



Now, collectors, W(^ leave the question to 

 you, and upon your endeavors depends the 

 future of the society, and with you rests 

 the prosperity and success of the "Knights 

 of Audubon." 



Let the next report show an increase in 

 the number of both Legions and members, 

 not a decrease. 



Yours fraternally, 



Jose R. Curtis, 

 Chief Sec'v. 



CHIEF SECRETARY'S FIRST MONTHLY 

 REPORT. 



April, 1885.— The first one to respond to 

 the call for the formation of Legions, was 

 Mr. Frank H. Metcalf, of Holyoke, Mass., 



